Avocados for Potatoes – The 20-Year Fight for Fresh Potato Access to Mexico

August 26, 2020

Over the past 20 years, the National Potato Council and the U.S. potato industry have been working to allow full access to U.S. fresh potatoes to be sold throughout Mexico. On Aug. 18, three U.S. Senators called on U.S. trade negotiators to use the new authority found in the USMCA to increase pressure on Mexico to honor its commitment to allow access to U.S. fresh potatoes.  

In the latest Eye on Potatoes Podcast, NPC CEO Kam Quarles discusses this long-simmering issue, which could amount to over $100 million annually, benefiting U.S. potato growers and Mexican consumers alike. Click Play to listen. 

Due to litigation brought by the Mexican potato cartel against their own government, U.S. fresh potatoes cannot be shipped beyond 26 kilometers of U.S.-Mexico border. This is a violation of a 2014 Mexican government decision to allow full access to U.S. fresh potatoes to be sold throughout Mexico and violates Mexico’s responsibilities under the World Trade Organization and the new USMCA. The litigation is currently before the Mexican Supreme Court, which has been on hiatus due to the COVID pandemic. 

Source: National Potato Council 

Early Season Optimism for Winter Wheat

April 15, 2024 - After enduring consecutive years of drought across large swaths of the nation's winter wheat growing regions, this year's crop is off to its best start in four years. Across 18 states...

Public Meetings on Updated BLM Greater Sage Grouse Management Plan Underway Across the West

April 12, 2024 - The Bureau of Land Management has announced a draft plan to strengthen greater sage-grouse conservation and management on public lands. This month the agency is holding eleven in-pers...

ASI and NCBA Release Guidance Criteria for Livestock Grazing on Public Lands During FMD Outbreak

April 11, 2024 - the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) received USDA National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) funding to work with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc...

Mary had a Little Lamb Day Teaching Youth Importance of Agriculture

April 11, 2024 - Educating our young people about where their food and fiber comes from is more important than ever. That's why the Montana Farmers Union was pleased to sponsor the recent Mary had a L...

Bovine Veterinary Group Names Illness: Bovine Influenza A Virus

April 10, 2024 - Bovine Influenza A Virus Recommended as New Name for Recent Illness in Dairy Cows

Ranching as a Family - Arntzen Angus Ranch

Podcast: Arntzen Angus Ranch is a fourth-generation operation, with brothers, cousins, and uncles working side by side every day with a common goal: raising Angus cattle. Members of the Arntzen family...

Bull Sales: Genetic Opportunities for Ranchers

April 8, 2024 - Spring calving keeps ranchers busy. As this year's calf crop arrives, producers are contemplating the future through their bull buying selections. That, of course, will steer the direc...

Confirmed Cases of HPAI in Domestic Livestock

April 7, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and State veterinary and public health officials are investigating an illn...

Biden Administration Proposes Grizzly Reintroduction in North Cascades

April 5, 2024 - Three to seven bears would be introduced in the forests of north-central Washington state over five to 10 years based on the plan detailed in a final environmental impact statement. Th...

BLM to Hold Virtual and In-Person Public Meetings on Greater Sage-Grouse Management

April 5, 2024 - The Bureau of Land Management is holding eleven in-person open-house meetings throughout the west to provide information on the BLM’s current greater sage-grouse planning effort. The f...